Important biosecurity information about fruit fly

Fruit Growers Tasmania | Monday, 26 March 2018, 12.00pm

Fruit Fly Detection - Update 23 March 2018

Eradication, surveillance and management of waste and risk produce activities remain ongoing within the areas where fruit fly has previously been detected in the State.

There has been no change to the current Control Areas which remain in place on Flinders Island and in northern Tasmania.

No detections of fruit fly or larvae have been made outside the current Control Areas.

At and around the detection sites within the Control Areas eradication activities are continuing with spot baiting being undertaken.

Surveillance is also being undertaken with ongoing inspection of host produce at and around identified sites. Approximately 520 traps are regularly inspected across the two Control Areas.

Ongoing surveillance by departmental staff and vigilance by local community around current infected sites has made larvae detections near the George Town and Spreyton detection sites (March 16). A larvae detection was made near the Flinders Island Lady Barron site on March 21.

Response actions at these sites are continuing, as well as surveillance, as part of giving certainty to when eradication is achieved.

At the other detection site within the Northern Tasmania Control Area, there have been no further detections for 28 days. No detections have been made at or near the Trousers Point or Badger Corner sites on Flinders Island for more than 50 days.

The focus remains on containment, eradication and protecting Tasmania’s fruit fly free status.

Actions include:

88.66 tons of fruit fly host produce were collected and destroyed in February.
2,857 properties have been inspected by Biosecurity Tasmania across the two Control Areas
140 road signs and fruit disposal bins have been placed throughout the Northern Tasmania Control Area
Biosecurity Tasmania officers regularly visit growers, distributors and retailers throughout the Control Areas
Biosecurity Tasmania staff are attending markets, major events and community activities throughout the two Control Areas to engage communities and ensure control actions are implemented.

What you can do to help:

Do not move fruit fly host produce out of the Control Area.
Inside the Control Area ensure all rotten, fallen or remains of host produce are double-bagged prior to placing in general waste
Obey airport and road signs and use fruit disposal bins provided on key roads when leaving the Control Area
Report all suspect produce to Biosecurity Tasmania on 6165 3774

Latest updates and information for the public http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/plant-biosecurity/pests-and-diseases/fruit-fly